Log-loading machine



' v 4 Shgets-Sheet- '1; G. W; PRATT &; J. P. HANSON LOG LOADING MACHINE.

No. 400,790. I Patented Apr. 2, 1.889.

(No Model.)

(No Model) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W. PRATT '86 J. P. HANSON.

- LOG LOADING MAGHINE.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

er, Wnhinglan. n. c.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

G. W. PRATT 8v J. P. HANSON.

LOG LOADING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 2, 1889.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. G. W. PRATT & J. P. HANSON.

LOG LOADING MAGHINE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC GEORGE W. PRATT AND JAMES P. HANSON, OFQSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

LOG-LOADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,790, dated April 2,1889.

Application filed April 23, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W.- PRATT and JAMES P. HANSON, of the cityof Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Log-Loadin g Machines; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification,

Our invention relates to improvements in devices for elevating andloading logs.

The construction of our invention is eX- plained by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side view of aportable form of our log-loading device in connection with a railway-carupon which logs are being loaded. Fig. 2 represents an end view of theloader shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are details representing one formof device for adjusting the log-stop and changing its inclination toconform to the shape of the pile of logs that are being loaded upon acar. Fig. 5 represents a side view of a modilied form of our loader aspreferably constructed when made stationary. Fig. 6 represents an endview of the device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail.

Like parts are represented by the same reference-letters throughout theseveral views.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, is an upright or vertical frame, which consists ofstandards B B, crossbars 0 C O, and braces D D D, all of which arerigidly bolted together.

The frame A is of sufficient height to give the required inclination tothe log-loading chains E E for drawing the logs upward and forward tothe load, and it is retained in place by brace-rods F F. Near the upperend of the frame A is a pulley-shaft, G, which extends across the rearend of the frame past the supporting-standardsB B, and is provided ateach end with spools H H, for the reception of the log-rolling chains EE, and at its center with a pulley, I, to which the motive power forloading the logs is applied. A rope, J, is wound around the pulley I andextends downward and is carried beneath the pulley of the Serial No.271,550. (No model.)

tackle-block K, and from thence rearward above and upon the pulley L,and is adapted to be operated by horse or similar power. The upper endsof the chains E are secured tothe spools H in such a manner that as therope J is drawn rearward and said pulleyshaft G is rotated the chainwill be wound around and upon said spools H as the rope J is beingunwound from said pulley 1, whereby the logs around which said chainsE'have been secured are drawn forward upon the supporting-ways M M andskids N N and O O. The car P is located between the skids and thevertical frame in such a manner that as the logs are drawn forward bythe chains they are deposited thereby upon the car. The lower or freeend of the chainsE are secured to the ends of the skids O O by-clevisesQ Q in such a manner that as the logs are drawn forward over the ends ofthe skids O the clevis will be drawn upward and forward by the chains Eas the logs pass over the ends of the skids, whereby the logs are thrownentirely free from the ends of the skids upon the carriage or logs whichhave been loaded.

The skids N are adapted to rest at one end upon the ground and theiropposite ends are supported upon posts R on a line with or slightlyabove the platform of the car, so that the logs as they are drawnforward thereon will readily roll therefrom upon the car.

To give stability to the car as it is being loaded, We have providedbraces S, which are interposed, respectively, between the platform ofcar and a stationary bearing, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Thelower ends of the skids O are provided with supportingways T, formedupon the upper surface of the skids N, and said ways T are provided witha series of apertures, U U, for the reception of a bolt or pin, V. Thelower ends of the skids O are also provided with apertures for thereception of the pin V, corresponding with the apertures U, whereby saidskids 0 may be adjusted higher or lower upon the inclined skids N, asmay be required to conform to the height of the load upon which the logsare being rolled. The log-stops consist of heavy bars l- 1, which areconnected at their lower ends by pivotal attachments with thepulleysupporting frame, and are connected at their upper ends to saidframe by aseries of swingl by belt '16, pulley 17, shaft 18, pulley 19,and

ing levers, (i 7. The levers 5 are pivoted to the frame A. The levers (iare in turn pivoted to the levers 5, and the levers 7 are pivoted at oneend to the levers (i and at their other ends to the stops 1. Theconstruction and arrangement of said levers 5 G 7 are shown in Fig. 3,each lever being formed of two parallel bars, a (l, and cross-bars l)l), and are adapted to overlap one upon another, as shown in Fig. 3.

8 8 are cords which are respectively attached at one of their ends tothe free or swinging ends of the levers 5 and (3, and their other endsare suspended from pulleys affixed to the frame of the machine in aconvenient position to be reached by the operator, whereby by drawingupon said cords the free ends of said levers 5 and 6, or either of them,may be drawn up from the horizontal to the vertical position, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby it is obvious that theupper ends of said stops may be adjusted at the desired angle. The lowerends of said stops are connected with the frame A by links or plates 9,and such ends are adjusted nearer to or farther from the vertical frameA by the ratchet-levers 10. The levers 1.0 are pivoted to the lower endsof said stop-bars and the teeth of the ratchet engage upon pins at'fixedto said frame.

A modified form of device for holding and adjusting the log-stops isshown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the levers 3 are pivoted to the stopsby pins 4, and the teeth of the ratchetlcvers engage upon pins 5, whichprotrude from the sides of the frame. Thus the angle of the bars 1. maybe changed to conform to the arrangement of the logs upon the load, sothat the first log of each series will be stopped at the point desired.

I11 the portable form of our log-loader shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frameA is supported upon the horizontal base-timbers 11' by pivotal bolts 1212, upon which, when it is de sired to move the loader, they are adaptedto be folded in line with the base 11'. The framesupporting brace-bars13 13 are pivoted at their lower ends to the horizontal timbers 11, andare connected at their upper ends with the upper end of said frame A bylinks 14. The brace-rods F F, previously referred to, also assist inholding the loader in a rigid position when in use. The frame A isprovided with runners 15 15, which are secured beneath it to thehorizontal timbers 11, upon which the loader may be drawn, as required,from place to place. When using a horse for operating the log-loader,the logs may be stopped at any desired point by stopping the horse.

In the modified stationary form of log loader shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wehave illustrated the mechanism for operating the same from an engine orother motive power, from which motion is communicated bya band andpulley, in which case motion is communicated to the pulley I from themotive power belt 20. Vhen operating this form of loader, the belt andpulleys 17 and 12,! are kept in a continuous motion, and motion iscommunicated therefrom to the pulley I, and from thence to the chains E,as mentioned, by the belt in. \Vhen, however, it is desirous to stop thechains E, the belt 16 is so slackened as to permit the pulley 17 torotate without communicating any motion therefrom, whereby the pulley Iand mechanism communicating therefrom to the logs are permitted toremain at rest, and when desirous to start the chains E the belt 16 isso tightened as to again communicate motion from the pulley 17 throughit to the pulley 1. Thus it obvious that by increasing or diminishingthe tension of the belt 16 the movement of the chains may be controlledat the will. of the operator without stopping the motive power. Thetension of the belt 16 is controlled by the lever 21, which lever ispivoted by bolt to the standard 13, and is connected to the free end ofthe pulley-support-ing bar 22 by the connecting-links The opposite endof the bar 22 is pivoted to the frame B" by pin 24. Thus it will beobvious that by pressing downward upon the lever 21 the free end of thepulley-supporting bar 22 will be forced downward, carrying with itpulleys 1 7 and 19, whereby the belt 16 is tightened, so as tocommunicate motion from the pulley 17 to the pulley I. hen, however, thelever 21 is released from the hand of the operator, the same is thrownupward by the gravity of the counterpoise 26, which is supported uponthe short arm of the lever 21, whereby the pulley-sup porting bar 22,with the pulleys thereon, is drawn upward and the belt 16 is slackened,so as to cease communicating motion to the pulley l, whereby the chainsE are permitted to remainv at rest.

To prevent the logs from rolling down the inclined ways or skids bytheir own gravity as the tension of the belt 16 is slackened, afriction-brake, 27, is provided, which is thrown in contact with theperiphery of the pulley 1', whereby said pulley is held in a stationaryposition and the logs retained. at any point desired upon the ways. Thefriction bearing or brake 27 is centrally supported by the levers 28upon the cross-bar 29. The levers 28 are pivoted at one end to thestandards B upon the pin 30, and their opposite ends are connected withan operating-lever, 31, by connecting-links 32. The lever 31 is pivotedupon bar 33, and its long arm is provided with an operatingcord, 34,which extends downward in a convenient position to be controlled by theoperator. By drawing downward upon the cord 34: the brake bearing 27 isthrown in contact with the pulley I, whereby its movement is controlled.hen the cord 3i is released, said brake 27 is thrown out of contact withthe pulley I by the gravity of its supporting parts.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a log-loading machine, the combination, with the vertical frame,the thereto-attached log-loadin g chains, and the mechanism for windingand operating the said chains, of one or more log-stops adjustablyconnected to said frame and adjustable bars for moving and retainingsaid stops at any desired angle for stopping the logs parallel to eachother when being elevated and loaded by the action of said chains,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a log-loading machine, the combination of a frame mounted upon asupporting base and provided with retaining-braces, horizontal rotatingshaft G, secured in journalbearings at the upper end of said frame, adriving-pulley rigidly affixed centrally upon said shaft G and providedwith an encircling cable communicating with the moving power,chain-retaining spools H H, affixed to the respective ends of said shaftG, two chains, E, secured, respectively, at one end to the respectivespools H H and at their other ends to the ends of the movablelog-supporting skids O,stationary skids N, provided with retainingwaysfor the reception of the lcwer ends of said movable skids O, and two logstops or bars, 1, adj ustably connected at their respect ive ends to thevertical frame A and adapted to stop the logs in their proper places asthey are being loaded or piled together, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. A log-loading machine comprising a vertically-arranged frame, A,pivoted at its lower end upon a movable base, 11, base 11,basesupporting runners 15 15, frame-supporting braces 13, pivoted attheir lower ends to said base 11 and connected at their upper ends tothe upper end of said frame, horizontallyarranged shaft G, secured injournal-bearings at the upper end of said frame A, drivingpulley I,rigidly affixed to said shaft G, cable J, encircling said pulley I andcommunicating therefrom with the moving power, chainretaining spools HH, affiXed to the respective ends of said shaft G, and two chains, E,secured, respectively, at one end to said spools H and at the other endto the log-supporting skids 0, all substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4. In a log-loading machine, the combination, with the vertical frameprovided with mechanism for operating the log-loading chains E, of thelog stops or bars 1, adj ustably connected at their lower ends with saidframe, ratchet-bars 3, pivoted at one end to the upper ends of saidstops 1, and ratchet-engaging pins or stops 5, upon which the teeth ofsaid ratchet-levers are adapted to engage as said log-stops areadjusted, substantially as and for the purpose'specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

